^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

France: Flags used in the Bastille Day parade

Description of the parade

See also:

Description of the parade

The French National Day is the 14th of July, which recalls the seizure of the Bastille fortress on 14 July 1789 by the people of Paris. This Day is called in English Bastille Day and more simply Quatorze Juillet or Fête Nationale in French.
The main event of Bastille Day is the military parade which takes place on (and above) Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris.

The sequence of the events of the parade is more or less the same each year.

The President of the French Republic, who is, according to the Constitution, the Head of the Armes Forces, shall arrive by car and join the Military Governor of Paris, who is responsible of the parade, in a command car. Then a battalion of the Republican Guard shall parade and be reviewed by the President. After the review, the President shall go into the VIP stands, where Madame la Présidente, the members of the Government, the Presidents of the Senate and the National Assembly as well as the guests are already present. In 2002, members of the New York City Fire Department and their families were among the guests. In 2001, the King and Queen of Spain were the main guests.

Before the start of the parade, a small scenography shall be presented. In 2001, the Spanish Royal Guard executed a very impressive equestrian ballet. 2002 is the bicentenary of the Légion d'Honneur, which was the subject of the scenography. This section of the ceremony shall end with a performa